Dorothy “Dottie” Anne Godfrey Bolyard, 92, of Terra Alta, West Virginia, passed away on Sunday, July 26, 2026, at New Horizon Senior Living Center, Kingwood, WV.
She was born February 6, 1934, in Charlotte, North Carolina, a daughter of the late Cloyd Hugh Godfrey, Jr. and Edelweiss Jones Godfrey. She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Louis “Lou” Clinton Bolyard.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Betty Lou Johnson and Helen Mary Godfrey Schlegel; one brother, Cloyd Hugh Godfrey; one grandson, Louis Brandon Bolyard; brother and sisters-in-law, Charles E. Bolyard and Marion Bolyard, Charlotte Bolyard Freeland and Donald Freeland, Ramona Bolyard Miller and Thomas Miller, Harriett Bolyard Freeland and James Freeland, and John McGinnis, and son-in-law Todd Smith.
She is survived by her six children, daughter, Mary Elaine Dawson (William) of Roanoke, Va.; son, Louis Randolph Bolyard (Vickie) of Bluefield, Va.; son, Kenneth Ray Bolyard (Diane) of Turtle Creek, W.Va.; son, Russell Lee Bolyard (Kimberly) of Morgantown, W.Va.; daughter, Michele Louise Smith of Richmond, Va.; son Albert Clinton Bolyard (Christine) of Kingwood, W.Va.; sister-in-law, Joyce Bolyard McGinnis of Bristol, Tenn. She is survived by numerous grandchildren, Erica Bolyard Huffman (Ryan), Larissa Bolyard Anderson (Jacob), Joshua Bolyard, Alicia Bolyard, Daniel Bolyard (Jillian), MaryAnn Khun, Matthew Bolyard, Alec Bolyard, Aaron Dawson, Chesney Sherman (Anthony), Alicia Hargrove (Corey), Becky Herron (Chris), Kati Mitchell (Wess); great-grandchildren, Grace, Faith, Abigail, Jacob, Owen, Reece, Olivia, Tristan, Logan, Graysen, Hadley, Nate, Elizabeth, Natalie, Kelsey, Piper, Camden, Vincent, Victoria, and Weston; great-great- grandchildren, Cass, Braden, and Ryder and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Dottie was a devoted mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, grandmother and friend. Even in her remaining years, when dementia robbed her of her memories and ability to verbalize her thoughts, Dottie had moments of clarity and witty remarks.
As a young girl, Dottie worked with her father at a local grocery store, delivering goods to customers when needed. She also worked as a clerk at Belk’s and babysat for a local doctor. She recalled many times about her visits to her Grandmother Jones and enjoying time with her cousin who had a room full of comic books. Dottie said that the adults would throw pennies into the yard for the kids to find and keep them busy. Every year, before school started, a family member, who owned a shoe store, would give her and her siblings a new pair of shoes. Her life was soon to change at the age of 17.
One day, on a chilly New Year’s Eve on December 31, 1950, a dear friend and neighbor invited Dottie to come meet her visiting cousin and his friend. That evening, she met her future husband, Lou. It was a story of love at first sight and, as Dottie would retell the story to her children, she and Lou talked into the early morning hours that night. Six months later, the day after Dottie graduated as Valedictorian from East Mecklenburg High School of Charlotte, N.C. on June 23, 1951, they married and began their journey together. The honeymoon was short as Lou was on a weekend pass from Fort Benning Georgia. They lived near base for a while until the Unit was scheduled to leave for Germany and then Korea. While Lou was in Germany as part of the Occupational Forces, Dottie made her home with Lou’s parents in Terra Alta, WV, Lou’s hometown.
Dottie was an eager, dedicated and exceptional student throughout her years of educational pursuits. She was a Senior Honor Student and editor of the East Mecklenburg High school paper, “East HI Lights.” She had a passion for writing stories and poetry, and, in her senior year, a short story titled, “A Haunting Memory,” recalling a tragic event she witnessed was published in the National Beta Club Journal, Vol. XVII, No. 8, April 1951. She continued her love of writing into the early years of her marriage. Among her many writings, a story was found titled “The Little Red School House,” and in it, Dottie stated that “I feel I must bring out the advantage a teacher has in molding young lives for the future! There is no greater task than this one. Neither is there a task that requires more clear, concrete thinking…An inspiring teacher is devoted to her eager to learn children. A teacher is not just a walking book of knowledge, but she is a living and still learning human being.” She was devoted to her students throughout her teaching career.
Dottie entered West Virginia University majoring in Early Childhood Education in 1959, during a time when she had three young children, ages 6, 5 and 1. She took a break from school during the birth of her fourth child but soon returned and continued her education even after the birth of her fifth and sixth children. In 1971, when her children ranged from 5-17 years of age, Dottie accepted the position as Head Start Teacher with Preston County Board of Education at Corinth, WV. While working, she continued to attend school in the evenings and summers. Dottie graduated with a bachelor’s in early childhood education in 1978. She pursued her master’s in education while working full-time and raising her six children. As part of the curriculum requirements, she tutored football students and would often tell the story, with an amused smile on her face about how she “just told them they had to be tutored if they wished to continue to play football.” She graduated with her master’s with high honors, Magna Cum Laude, in 1988 from West Virginia University. Although she was born in the Carolinas, Dottie was a loyal fan of WVU and attended games, shouting out and cheering.
She accepted a kindergarten teaching position with the Preston County Board of Education at Kingwood Manown and Arthurdale Elementary Schools in 1978, then in 1979, to a permanent position at Arthurdale Elementary until she retired in 1996. She was well respected throughout her career. Dottie received numerous accolades as a teacher, but her greatest joy was to follow her young students through the local news and see how they grew as adults, she was very proud of her kids. After a day of teaching, there were times when the days were even longer if there was a local High School football or basketball game to attend.
Dottie pursued other interests, all while working, going to school, and raising her children. She made several quilts using the old-fashioned quilt frame, also known as the stretcher frame, allowing each beautiful quilt to be hand stitched. She did not like to be idle and, when sitting, she would crochet numerous lovely Afghans. She sewed, like many of the women of her generation, and made many clothes, costumes and even her own wedding dress.
Dottie was part of a small group of friends (referred to as the Club) who gathered to socialize and enjoy a game of cards. She participated in the PTA, Band Boosters, Civic Club, and Red Hats. Dottie was not afraid to venture outside of the norm and, together with a dear friend, Cathy Teets, taught Belly Dancing, and, yes, she made her own outfits. She loved reading a great novel, an evening out for dinner and dancing, a stroll along a sandy beach, shopping, and sending cards to family and friends. She delighted in the joy of Christmas and always tried to stretch out the season.
Dottie’s passing will be grieved by her family and friends. She will be remembered for her charming quick wit, twinkling eyes, compassion, love, thoughtful insight, joy of new experiences, gentleness, and listening thoughtfully to worries. If you had a problem, she was always in your corner.
Visitation will be held at Arthur H. Wright Funeral Home, Terra Alta, WV, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, 2026. Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Edward the Confessor Mission Church, 1204 E State Ave, Terra Alta, WV 26764, at 10 a.m. Friday, July 31, 2026, with Father Joyson Puthussery as celebrant. Interment will follow in the Terra Alta Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be given to the St. Edwards Catholic Church, 322 E. Main Street, Kingwood, WV 26537, or the West Virginia Chapter of Alzheimer’s Association, 1601 Second Ave, Charleston, WV 25387.
The family welcomes memories from relatives, friends, and students through the Arthur Wright Funeral Home website, www.arthurwrightfuneralhome.com.
